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How to Avoid Pickpockets in Europe

The recent spate of threads about being robbed in Barcelona makes it a good idea to post the following guidelines on how to avoid getting pickpocketed - wherever you're traveling. Many thieves are professionals and the robbery takes place in seconds, but take these precautions and the chances are very good that you will not get pickpocketed.

These guidelines come from the Barcelona Yellow Pages and City Guide, because as the article states: If there were Olympic medals for pickpocket and bag-snatching schemes, then Barcelona would win the gold. Nevertheless, these guidelines would work anywhere in the world.

My recommendation is always to wear a money belt under your clothes. My sister had just given me her debit card and her passport to put in my money belt when her purse was stolen in a restaurant by a thief pretending to be a waiter. She did lose a good camera, but not vital items.

In the train to Montserrat a woman attempted to steal my purse, which was on the floor between my leg and the train wall--in contact with my leg. I felt the purse strap move and immediately knew what was up. I'm always careful, but especially in Barcelona.

I don't dress like a tourist, but one look at my face tells you that I'm not Spanish. My Irish and Danish forebears give me away.

Not as much pickpocketing as panhandling. Old gypsy women going around with cups, even going up to some diners sitting at an outdoor table in Venice. Or African guys standing in a busy street with their cap out.

I'm sure there are still pickpockets in Italy but seems more panhandling than before. Who knows, maybe they're having better luck panhandling than pickpocketing.

1) never let go of your belongings
2) be aware of what is going on around you
3) dont; be "nice" to random strangers asking questions while the partner picks your pocket or slits your knapsack

More than 90 trips to europe and never a problem. (Although I lost a pair of sunglasses in Switz, which I think some people here would consider theft - or the fault of the outdoor cafe on the table of which I accidentally left them.)

Caveat: I'm a native New Yorker and a lot of thigns that seem bvious to me are apparently a mystery to some other travelers.

Something that seldom is mentioned is a bra wallet. Now your passport won't fit in there but it is a good place to carry a spare credit/ATM card and a few bills of the local currency (or your home currency) for emergencies.

Be cautious and sensible, just as you would be at home, but not overcautious. If you wear A shoulder bag closely gripped under your arm, or keep it in your lap with one hand over it while eating... You are just indicating it's valuable, and you are afraid of being robbed... Which will make you a target.

On the other hand, if you leave your passport at the hotel, you won't be ableto use your credit cards. Shops are required to ask you for a passport or ID card with photo in order to pay by credit card.

Agosto: "On the other hand, if you leave your passport at the hotel, you won't be ableto use your credit cards. Shops are required to ask you for a passport or ID card with photo in order to pay by credit card."

That doesn't makes sense. Millions of people use credit cards every day in Europe and the VAST majority won't be carrying their passports, and chip/pin credit card users don't need any sort of ID. What country are talking about? Or do you just mean if one is doing tax free shopping (VAT refund scheme)?

"On the other hand, if you leave your passport at the hotel, you won't be ableto use your credit cards. Shops are required to ask you for a passport or ID card with photo in order to pay by credit card."

Agosto as indicated above is wrong. It is possible they will ask for your passport and number one precaution is don't walk around with your passport. I believe once I was asked and I used my card alot and the photocopy I had with worked just fine. I don't care what country it is don't walk around with your passport.

"On the other hand, if you leave your passport at the hotel, you won't be ableto use your credit cards. Shops are required to ask you for a passport or ID card with photo in order to pay by credit card."

Where?
I NEVER carry my passport and have been able to use my credit cards from Stockholm to Barcelona...Berlin to Venice , Prague to Amsterdam etc.

I want my passport with me at all times - so I know where it is. Am not leaving it in a hotel "safe" for several days - to find it gone when ready to check out. I can take better care of my own things than a hotel can.

In Barcelona, by law you are required to carry a photo ID. You will be asked in shops to show an ID when using a credit card. When I lived there and I got asked all the time to show ID when using my credit card. Usually, not at restaurants but it has happened to me when I least expect it - like Pizza Hut of all places. (not my first choice to eat, but little kids get homesick

I did not carry my passport around. But, I did carry my US driver's license and that worked fine.

Too lazy to find the government web page, but this is from Time Out, which is a reputable source:

"From the age of 14, Spaniards are legally obliged to carry their DNI (identity card). Foreigners are also meant to carry an ID card or passport, and are in theory subject to a fine – in practice, you’re more likely to get a warning. If you don’t want to carry it around with you (wisely, given the prevalence of petty crime), it’s a good idea to carry a photocopy or a driver’s licence instead: technically, it’s not legal, but usually acceptable.

ID is needed to check into a hotel, hire a car, pay with a card in shops and exchange or pay with travelers’ cheques."

And, relating specifically to credit cards:

"Note: you need photographic ID (a passport, driving licence or something similar) when using a credit or debit card in a shop, but that is usually not required in a restaurant."

Sometimes you need a photo id, but never a passport, at least as far as all the places I've been. I never carry my passport with me -- well except for the one time in Rome in the olden days when I needed to cash traveler's checks where a passport was, in fact required. Fortunately, the thief on Bus 64 took the wallet and not the passport . . . !

Having lived in France and in England, I never needed my passport for anything, including using my credit cards.

Regarding the bra wallet -- thanks for mentioning this, I had not heard of this until last December! -- I never bothered to use this until a trip over the new year to Mexico City. This little contraption reminded me of money we used to pin under our dresses in the '60's in case our little purses were stolen. Anyway, the bra money holder is pretty awesome!

There's another cool item -- an arm band for your cell phone. In case your purse was stolen, you still have your cell phone in your arm band. I actually still wear that thing, because it's practical and looks sharp!

I have been asked for ID when using my cc in Madrid and the chip machine or my chip didn't work.

The general rule in Sweden is that you must present an ID when using your cc if it hasn't got a chip and a pin. I guess many shops/restaurants will accept your cc even though you haven't got any ID with you just beacause of the situation and that you are a tourist. It probably also depends on the amount of the purchase. But I wouldn't count on it and the general rule IS that you must show an approved ID (passport, IC, driving license).

I'm Spanish, I'm talking about Spain (where Barcelona is, remember?), the shops are required to ask for an official ID card with photo or a passport if you are using credit cards. It's a security measure. In fact, Spanish people show ID card automatically, since we know it is required.
Maybe they are not asking it to tourists for fear of losing the business, but in that case they're breaking the law. If you are unlucky enough to have your card stolen, you will be grateful that ID with photo is required.

Probably small stores in Spain are wiling to break the law to make a sale.
The only shop that asked for I D was a big bookstore on P. De Garcia in Barcelona.
In 2007, I paid for groceries in Stockholm with a CC without I.D.
I don't remember if my card had a chip.
The other spots I shopped with CC only would be : Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Prague, Venice.,etc.

I travel extensively throughout Europe and in forty years I have never been subject to pick pocketing or any other type of robbery. (cross fingers, may that continue!)
As for pan handling and street beggars I was shocked as to how prevalent this now is in California and Las Vegas during my trip there in April, at a level I have not experienced in western Europe. Even in Santa Barbara on State St, you could not walk five yards, without being accosted.